86R22570 AAF-F

By: Thompson of Brazoria H.B. No. 2025

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to legislative oversight of the issuance of driver's licenses and certain other forms of identification in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 7, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Chapter 526 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 526. JOINT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON ISSUANCE OF DRIVER'S

LICENSES AND OTHER FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION

Sec. 526.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Committee" means the Joint Oversight Committee on Issuance of Driver's Licenses and Other Forms of Identification.

(2) "Department" has the meaning assigned by Section 521.001.

Sec. 526.002. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. (a) The committee is established to review the administration and implementation of the following duties of the department:

(1) the issuance of driver's licenses under Chapters 521 and 522;

(2) the issuance of personal identification certificates under Chapter 521;

(3) the issuance of election identification certificates under Chapter 521A; and

(4) the registration of voters during the issuance or renewal of a driver's license or personal identification certificate.

(b) The committee shall review plans and receive updates from state and local governmental entities involved with the administration and implementation of the department's duties described by Subsection (a).

Sec. 526.003. COMPOSITION. (a) The committee is composed of eight members as follows:

(1) four members of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(2) four members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) The chair of the committee shall alternate biennially between:

(1) a member of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(2) a member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) A vacancy on the committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

Sec. 526.004. REPORT. The committee biennially shall provide a written report to the legislature that identifies:

(1) the amounts of money appropriated and expended for the administration and implementation of the department's duties described by Section 526.002(a) during a period determined by the committee;

(2) current technological and operational deficiencies in the administration and implementation of the department's duties described by Section 526.002(a);

(3) information relating to the amount of time the interaction between the department and a customer currently takes for the issuance of a driver's license, personal identification certificate, or election identification certificate; and

(4) recommendations relating to the improvement and optimization of the administration and implementation of the department's duties described by Section 526.002(a) for the consideration of the legislature, including any necessary funding and timelines to implement the recommendations of the committee, as applicable.

Sec. 526.005. ADMINISTRATION OF COMMITTEE. (a) The committee:

(1) has the powers and duties of a joint committee created by proclamation; and

(2) may obtain funding in the same manner as a joint committee created by proclamation.

(b) The rules adopted by the 86th Legislature for the administration of joint committees created by proclamation apply to the committee to the extent the rules are consistent with this section.

Sec. 526.006. EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER. The committee is abolished and this chapter expires on September 1, 2029.

SECTION 2. (a) In this section, "committee" means the Joint Oversight Committee on Issuance of Driver's Licenses and Other Forms of Identification.

(b) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives shall make appointments to the committee not later than the 30th day after the effective date of this Act.

(c) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the initial chair of the committee.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.